Visiting a local play space or children's museum is a surefire bet for lonely winter days. But if you want to get all ages in on the action (parents, too), bowling is hard to beat. This great boredom-buster is loads of fun and no experience is necessary.

Long Island is loaded with family-friendly lanes, including some that offer bumper lanes, lighter balls for little hands, arcades, and family and teen nights. We've already updated our list of bowling alleys in Suffolk County, and now we're putting together a list of those in Nassau. One of the best things about bowling? It's often open on holidays when other fun and sport zones are closed.

A Thanksgiving feast is usually prepared and served in our homes. But sometimes it’s nice to take a break from tradition. Drop the daylong prep for Thanksgiving and head out to one of these Long Island restaurants serving up a traditional turkey dinner. Who knows, maybe you can enjoy a Thanksgiving run, volunteer, or (gasp!) relax a little.

For those who aren’t fans of turkey, many of these restaurants offer regular menu items. so everyone can have what they prefer. Just be sure to call ahead for reservations.

Have a happy Thanksgiving! And for more tips and activities this season, check out our Long Island Fall Fun Guide.

The days are long, but the years are short. Before you know it, it’s time for your little one to spread his or her wings and head off to preschool.

There are many preschool options on Long Island and choices can be overwhelming. But if you’ve decided a Montessori preschool is a good fit for your child, we’ve put together a list of 10 options to get you started on a search.

For the uninitiated, Montessori is an educational philosophy developed more than a century ago that encourages kids to be independent and learn at their own pace. Typically students are grouped by ability rather than age, classrooms are outfitted with specific learning materials, and specially trained teachers act as observers and facilitators.